MEN'S GOLF
By SHORT PUTT
Last weekend with sunshine beckoning the Forbes golfers took to the course with gusto to enjoy their golf and play in a positive manner to ward off the chilling breeze. All this heralded good scoring.
The Saturday competition was a 4BBB Stableford Medley, playing for the ‘Bob & Daine Doolin Memorial Trophy’ and sponsored by the Francis family.
The field of 74 players included men, ladies and juniors who tried as best they could to team well in their pairings.
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The winners were decided by count back when two pairings finished on 46 points.
Both pairs had a safe margin back to the remainder of the field.
The nod went to Trevor Williams and Ian Coombs (B/Gate) who produced a scintillating back-9. Their 24 points included only 2’s and 3’s and obviously no ‘misses’.
Their start was not encouraging when they recorded a ‘miss’ on the 1st hole but thereafter it was either ‘2’ or ‘3’ points on each hole.
While Ian produced most of the best scores on individual holes Trevor chimed in with his good play when needed.
Runners-up were the pair of Simon Martino and Brett Wonton. Their points scored ranged from 1’s to 4’s with no ‘misses’ at all. They managed an even game with 23 points on each half.
Their teaming was productive with the heavy lifting by Simon and the ‘rescue touch’ by Brett when needed.
They looked good with a 3-pointer to start the round and 14 points after five holes but then it became a roller coaster of scoring.
The best mixed pairing was Terry Sharpe and Veronica Rebellato who managed a tidy 42 points.
Terry was called upon to ‘carry the flag’ on the front-9 when Veronica could not find her swing. It was a better combination on the back-9 where they managed 23 points.
The best ladies team was Sarah Black and Ann-Maree Gaffney who carded 41 points. They had a below-par front-9 but fired together on the back-9 to produce 24 points with a succession of 2’s and 3’s.
The individual comp winner was Ian Coombs. His individual score of 41 points was built on a handicap front-9 and a more than satisfactory back-9 of 23 points.
The ball sweep went to 41 points on count back, going to: 44 – D&A Quirk; 43 – C McMillan/J Page; 42 – P Pymont/C Alley, T Sharpe/V Rebellato, A&L Andrews: 41 – S Black/A-M Gaffney, J Fletcher/T Griffiths, P O’Connell/S Brindle.
The only visitor was Ian Coombs (Bogan Gate) who had a very nice day out.
The NTP’s went to: 9th – Ladies: S Grierson, Men: T Williams; 18th – Ladies: A Simmons, Men: T Morgan. Neither of them converted for a ‘2’, of which there were only four overall.
The 9th earned two 2’s and was hotly contested with five names on the mens card.
Archie Quirk started the day well with a ‘2’ on the 1st hole to record a ‘2-a-4’ as compared to his partner who had a ‘4-a-2’. Do you see the symmetry there?
The 3rd hole Super-Pin went to Jeff House. His shot to 140 cm had a beautiful shape all the way, landed softly and was applauded by his group.
His was the second name on the sheet and well inside the previous best of 1200 cm, otherwise known as 12 metres, made by Jenny Ridley. Somehow this green was hard to hit.
Overall the scores were very even and apart from the winners there were no wildly high scores scampering ahead. Only seven of the pairings scored ‘below handicap’ with the father & son Alley pair comfortably taking the Bradman, if there was one.
There were two swingers in the field with Glendon Hooper and Scott Kirkman playing the double role.
Glendon’s pairings did the better, scoring handicap or better, but Scott’s performance was hampered by his partners with both pairings finishing below handicap.
Once again the stories in the Golfie centred around missed putts.
Some people had success with Stevie G sinking a monster on the 6th for a par, but others had ‘shave after shave’ with putts for birdies or pars not finding the hole.
Joint winner Trevor, who has returned to golf for some relaxation, managed to wrangle a new putter from H/Pro Will before he ventured out, and it seemed to work.
There were a few wayward shots played. Brett Woonton managed to score a birdie on the 12th but it was how he got there that provided the story.
His tee shot inexplicably went high and wide finishing well down the 6th fairway. With barely a sight to the pin his second shot soared over the trees, landed on the green and settled a few feet from the pin for a comfortable birdie putt.
The Finalists for the Wallace Cup have been decided. Last week Brad Ashton defeated Fons Melisi 3-2, while recently Kim Herbert defeated Stephen up 4-2.
In both cases the eventual winner had their opponent dormie after a very tight tussle.
Here is the news:
Head Pro Will has been playing in a few PGA events lately with mixed results.
At Castle Hill (Sydney) early in the week he finished in the middle of the field on a very wet and muddy course.
Then later that week he finished in 3rd place at Gunnedah on a course that was wet but well presented, although he did find the greens difficult to fathom. He finished on par behind the winner on 3-under.
A few Forbes players attended the Cowra Open held on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 August.
Neither of them fared well on the first day although John Betland was pleased with his 1-over following his finger injury.
But they did improve on the second day where Caleb Hanrahan earned A-Grade Scratch runner/up with 70 and Fons Melisi earned B-Grade Nett Winner with 70 nett.
The event was won by Dominic Falk (Goulburn) with 2-under and runner-up was Cooper Giddings (Dubbo), who won the Forbes Classic 2024, with 1-under.
Josh Coulthurst was unable to pick-up his ‘Most Travelled Player’ prize. On every hole he seemed to have no control on direction and in some cases finished three fairways from the hole he was playing.
A small number of Forbes players attended the Temora Open but the results have not been obtained yet.
Forbes player representation in District and State events has another name to add. It is unofficial as yet but Archie Quirk has been invited to join the ‘Western Region Academy of Sport’ team following a successful day at Duntryleague.
He will receive development assistance and participate in the Western Region team to contest events in the JNJG and RAS programs.
For those long term members of the club they may be interested to know that Alby Callaghan has reached the age of 90 years.
Whilst not having played golf for a while he retains and close interest and is bolstered by both Todd and Harry carry on the family golfing prowess.
Do not forget the Caragabal Open, set for this Sunday 17 August. The fee is $50 per player (cash preferred) which includes lunch. This year the format is changed to an Individual Stroke and Handicap event. Check the Pro Shop Notice Board for details on registration.
It is crystal ball time:
This Saturday 16 August is an Individual Stableford event, sponsored by MTA Travel. And Sunday has the usual Stableford Medley comp.
VETS GOLF
Players from the Lachlan Valley Veteran Golfers Association who have qualified for the NSWVGA District Final to be played in Parkes on Thursday August 21 have been announced. It will be played in conjunction with the Parkes Invitation Day.
Players from February – S French (Fbs), A Mackinnon (Fbs) and F Hanns (Fbs); March – G Pritchard (Pks), B Green (G’fell), D McKeowen (Fbs); April K Cartman (G’fell), J Grant (G’fell), R Williams (Fbs), B Toms (Condo); June I Myers (Condo), K Herbert (Fbs) and D Norris (Condo).
Last Thursday 31 players in twin towns vets converged on the Forbes course where local players dominated with Scott Kirkman the only player able to break handicap winning with 39 points.
It was all Forbes where the day’s organiser Allen Rees may have been the ‘gentleman’ beaten for runner-up on a count-back by Bruce Chandler after both recorded 35 points while nearest the pins also went to Forbes players with Ross Williams (9th) and Steve Rogers (18th) collected the winnings.
Parkes did have success with Ken Keith OAM taking home the encouragement award. Nothing changed in the twin towns shield with the best six individual scores from 20 players representing Forbes posting 208 points to Parkes’ 177 points (11 players).
Ball sweep to 31 points – 35 Allan Rees (F), 33 Ross Williams (F), Steve Rogers (F), Alf Davies (F), Don McKeowen (F), Barry Parker (F), John Milton (F), 32 Gordon Pritchard (P), Ted Morgan (F), Barry Shine (F), 31 Phil Bishop (P), Kim Herbert (F).
This week Parkes host the twin towns comp while the following Thursday they have the Lachlan Valley Invitation Day. Noms from 9.15am for 10am shot gun start.
There was no need for a count-back on Tuesday with the racing John Milton best scoring 24 points for the social 12 hole comp from Warwick Judge 23 then Andrew Norton-Knight next on 22 points. As mentioned Bogan Gate features this week.
LADIES GOLF
The more pleasant weather conditions have seen more ladies taking to the course.
Last Wednesday the event was a Stableford Aggregate event sponsored by Enid Baker and the Jelbart Family which attracted 11 pairs.
Hot pair of the day were Jennifer Fletcher and Ann Simmons with a very good 74 points.
Not far behind were Colleen Venables and Ev Uphill with 71 points to take the runners-up position.
Ball sweep went to the Colleen/ Ev and Shirley Davies/Robin Lyell combinations.
NTP’s went to Robin Lyell on the 9th and Wendy Simmons on the 18th.
Last Saturday was a 4BBB Medley for the Bob and Daine Doolin Memorial Trophy.
There were quite a few ladies spread throughout the field with Veronica Rebellato who teamed with Terry Sharpe finishing 6th with 42 points, the all girl combination of Ann -Maree Gaffney/Sarah Black won balls with 41 points as did Jennifer Fletcher/Terry Griffiths also with 41 points.
Carolyn Duncan and Ann Simmons also finished on 41 points but missed out on a ball on countback. NTP’s went to Sharon Grierson on the 9th and Ann Simmons on the 18th. Full results in men’s notes.
Saturday August 16 is a Stableford event sponsored by Steve Gaffney Building in two divisions. It is the qualifying event for the WDLGA Spoon Competition, the final of this event is played at the WDLGA Finals Day.
Wednesday August 20 is the Captain V President Day mystery event. Names in early please so players can be notified what team they are in so they can dress in the appropriate colours.
Sunday August 17 is Dunedoo’s Tournament with Peak Hill’s the following Sunday.
